How To Use Kodi To Watch TV — Beginner’s Guide

Here’s how to use Kodi to watch TV, movies, live sports, and more (even for free) — plus a basic intro to what Kodi is and what you should know before you use it.

So you have Kodi and you’re ready to unleash its power. But where to start? If you don’t yet know how to use Kodi to watch TV, live sports, movies, and lots more, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

Like most powerful, versatile technologies, Kodi (formerly XBMC) can be confusing and a bit overwhelming at first. But thankfully it’s really easy to use.

We take you through how to get started, from safely downloading Kodi to installing add-ons for streaming great TV. First, a short intro to Kodi — and what you should know before you use it.

What Is Kodi?

Imagine a world where all your favorite shows, sports, and movies are available to watch anytime, anywhere on a beautiful, slick, state-of-the-art interface — all for free, free, free. Sound like a fantasy? It’s real. Welcome to the wonderful world of Kodi. We think you’re gonna like it here.

Kodi (formerly called XBMC) is a software application, or app, that functions as a media player. It’s free to download and use. Kodi is designed to organize and play all kinds of digital media. You can watch TV shows, movies, live sports, live TV, and other content — plus listen to music and manage your photos. Here, we’ll be covering how to use Kodi to watch TV, sports, and movies.

Kodi is very popular, has been given awards by Lifehacker and others (here’s our Kodi review). You can use Kodi on a PC, Mac, iOS device, Android device, streaming box, Amazon Fire TV, Raspberry Pi, and others. (See the best Kodi TV boxes to stream content on your TV screen.)

Kodi doesn’t come with any content on it. You can put your own content into your Kodi media library, including videos, music, and pictures. You can also use Kodi to stream content from the internet — and this is what you’ll mostly be interested in.

To stream shows, movies, and sports on Kodi, you install Kodi add-ons, which are like the apps on your phone. There is a massive library of Kodi add-ons and plugins you can install — almost all of which are free. You can watch just about any TV show, movie, and live sports event on Kodi with the right add-ons.

Kodi add-ons are divided into two categories: official and unofficial. There are some great official add-ons. But it’s the others, the “unofficial” ones, that are the most popular. Why? Because these are the add-ons that will let you watch all kinds of great content for free. There are third-party Kodi add-ons to watch Netflix, Hulu, HBO, ESPN, BBC, Amazon Prime Video, and much, much more — all for free.

DON’T RISK IT: Always Use A VPN With Kodi

Kodi is safe to use as long as you use it with a VPN.

A VPN (virtual private network) is an online security and privacy tool. VPN is the go-to way to protect your personal information while connected to the internet — be it on Kodi, when using public WiFi, or any other circumstance.

Why is it so important to use a VPN with Kodi?

Because Kodi isn’t perfect. It’s an amazing technological achievement — and people would be happy to pay for it, so the fact that it’s free makes it all the more special. But Kodi has some real privacy and security risks.

First, hackers and scammers love to target Kodi users. The open-source platform makes this all to easy for them to do. Read more about Kodi’s biggest security risks.

Second, certain Kodi add-ons that let you pay TV for free may violate copyright laws. Copyright holders, Internet Service Providers, the government, and etc. really hate it when people watch stuff without paying for it and want to stop/punish those who do. In short, you will most likely be tracked and monitored on Kodi. Many unprotected users get hit with copyright infringement notices from their ISPs. You don’t want to be on the radar of any entity looking for illegal streaming activity.

Then there’s the legal question. Is watching all this free stuff on Kodi legal? Yes… sort of. But it’s also sort of not legal. It’s complicated. For a detailed discussion, see Is Kodi Legal? In short, certain add-ons (the popular ones that will let you watch free TV) may break some copyright laws. It’s a bit of a gray area — but what is certain is that streaming free TV and movies on Kodi is something you’re better off doing privately.

So it is highly recommended you take steps to stay secure and anonymous on Kodi. The way to do this is to use a VPN with Kodi. A VPN will prevent you from being hacked or tracked you while you watch all that awesome free stuff. It will keep your identity hidden and secure your connection, so nobody can see who you are or what you’re doing. A VPN will also let you unblock new content sources on Kodi, giving you lots more streaming options. As a Kodi user, I would never watch Kodi TV without my VPN. (See more about how VPN works and why it’s needed with Kodi.)

Not all VPNs have sufficient security and privacy measures, so choose carefully. From extensive testing and personal experience, NordVPN is the best VPN to use with Kodi. Its military-grade encryption will keep you 100% safe and anonymous on Kodi. NordVPN also has the fastest streaming speeds, is super easy to use, and has the best deal at just $3.29/month with their limited-time offer. Only NordVPN has dedicated ultra-fast TV servers. These are specifically optimized for streaming at maximum speeds on Kodi — so you get complete protection without slowing your connection. It’s also a PC Magazine Editor’s Choice 2017-2015 and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. See the table below for some other trusted Kodi VPNs. Or learn more about what to look for in a Kodi VPN.

It’s really easy to set up a VPN with Kodi (done in about 5 minutes). So do that first, if you haven’t already. Then come back here and get started using Kodi safely and anonymously to watch free Netflix, Hulu, Showtime, HBO, live sports, and more. Let’s get to it!

How To Use Kodi To Watch TV (For Free): Guide For Beginners

How To Install Kodi

First things first — get Kodi installed on whatever device you want to use it on (computer, mobile, gaming system, streaming device, etc.). Is Kodi safe to download? Yes. As long as you get Kodi from the official source, it is completely safe.

Go to http://kodi.tv, Kodi’s official website, and download the Kodi application for your device(s). Then follow the instructions to install it on your Mac or Windows computer, Android or iOS device, Kodi streaming box, etc. Here’s the easiest way to install Kodi on Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV Stick.
Now that you have Kodi (and a VPN), here are the steps you’ll complete to start watching content:

1. Install the Fusion Add-on Installer (This will let you access more add-ons — particularly the ones that will let you watch free content.)
2. Install some add-ons
3. Open an add-on and start watching content

The instructions below have been updated for the currentKodi version 17 ‘Krypton.‘

1. How To Install Fusion Add-On Installer

You’re going to be installing the Fusion Add-on Installer — an add-on manager and installer tool.

Fusion Add-on Installer will give you access to a whole suite of popular add-ons the default Kodi add-on library (called a ‘repository’) doesn’t include — add-ons like SportsDevil, Exodus, 1Channel, and more.

[As an alternate approach to Fusion, another fast and easy way for beginners to get started is to simply install a Kodi build. Kodi builds come customized for you, and the good ones have all the best TV add-ons already installed. See the best Kodi build 2017 and how to install it.]

Here’s how to install Fusion:

First, turn on your VPN and connect to any server. Then open the Kodi application. You’ll see the Kodi Home Screen.

Next, before you can install Fusion, you need to change one of the settings in Kodi to allow third-party add-ons. To do this, go to Home >System (the gear icon) > System settings > Add-ons. Activate ‘Unknown Sources‘ option. You will see a WARNING! message saying that add-ons will have access to your personal data. As long as you’re using a VPN with sufficient security and privacy protection — like one of these — you can proceed.

Now, to install Fusion Add-on Installer, follow these steps:

1. From the Kodi Home Screen go to System > File Manager

2. Select Add Source

3. Select ‘None‘ for the path. Then type in http://fusion.tvaddons.co and name the source (Fusion). Fusion will now be added to your list of sources.

[NOTE: The TVAddons website, home to Fusion, is working on a major site overhaul. If it’s offline when you set up Kodi, you can use SuperRepo instead to install hundreds of popular add-ons at one time. See how to install SuperRepo on Kodi.]

4. Return Home and go to Add-ons. Click the little box icon at the top to open the Add-on browser. Select Install from Zip.

5. A list of sources will appear. Select Fusion, then select begin-here. Finally, select plugin.program.addoninstaller-1.2.9.zip. (The version number may have changed by the time you read this.)

6. A note saying that Add-on Installer is enabled should briefly flash on screen. In some cases it doesn’t start up right away, but if you exit and reopen Kodi it should fix it.

7. Now go to Home > Add-ons > Program Add-ons. Add-on Installer should be listed under installed add-ons. Select it, and it will take you to the add-on library. From there you can browse and choose any add-ons you want to install.

2. How To Install Kodi Add-Ons

(AKA, How To Use Kodi To Watch Free TV, Movies, And Sports)

Once you have Kodi on your device and have added Add-on Installer, it’s time to install Kodi add-ons to start streaming shows, sports, and other content from the internet. This where things really get interesting with Kodi. There are literally thousands of add-ons you can use to watch all kinds of great stuff. Kodi add-ons are what make the platform so popular and powerful.

There are a few different ways to install Kodi add-ons. We’ll take you through the easiest way for beginners — by using Fusion Add-on Installer. But again, if you prefer a more plug-and-play approach, you can just install a Kodi build, which will come with the best TV add-ons all ready for you to use.

How To Install Add-ons Using Fusion Add-on Installer (Best For Beginners)

To install add-ons using the Fusion Add-on Installer, follow these steps:

1. Go to Home > Add-ons > Program Add-ons > Add-on Installer

2. Browse the list of add-ons and select one you want (like Exodus).

3. Click Install.

4. Go to Home > Add-ons > My add-ons > All. Find and select Exodus. Click to ‘Enable‘ it. Now you can open the add-on and start exploring.

Which add-ons should you start with? If you get Exodus and 1Channel for TV and movies on-demand, Phoenix and cCloud TV for live TV, SportsDevil for sports, and SALTS to round it out — chances are you’ll have access to everything you want to watch. You can find all of these in Add-on Installer. For more of the top add-ons for TV, sports, and movies, see our list of the best Kodi add-ons in 2017. This includes the best add-ons for Kodi live TV, live sports, TV shows, and more.

One note: Unfortunately many of the most popular sources for TV and movies on Kodi are restricted based on what country you’re in (like Netflix, BBC, ITV, Sky Sports, ESPN, HBO, and many more). The good news is that it’s easy to unblock Kodi add-ons and get access to every geo-restricted content source, no matter where you are.

3. How To Open And Use Kodi Add-Ons To Watch Free TV

Now that you have some add-ons installed, it’s time to open them up and start using them (if you haven’t already). To find your add-ons, go to Home > Add-ons and click on one you want. This will open it up and give you access to all its content.

Alternately, go to Home > Add-ons > My Add-ons > All and select from there to enable, configure, update, or open an add-on.

For a third option, go to Home > Add-ons > Video Add-ons and click on one. This will open up a screen with a description of the add-on, and buttons to configure, update, uninstall, or open it.

And that’s it! You can now explore and start watching tons of cool content. (Remember, if you can’t get access to content because of geo-blocks, here’s how to unblock them.)

Below you’ll find some more ways to install add-ons and enjoy Kodi.

How To Use Kodi: More Options & Intermediate Help

How To Use Kodi On Amazon Fire Stick

Amazon Fire Stick and Amazon Fire TV are great devices to use with Kodi. You can enjoy tons of great content on your nice big TV screen.

To use Kodi on Amazon Fire Stick, you first need to get Kodi installed on your device. This is very easy. You don’t need to buy a device with Kodi already on it — and since these tend to be very buggy, you really shouldn’t Instead, here are 3 easy ways to manually install Kodi on Amazon Fire Stick/TV.

Once you have Kodi installed on your Fire device, just open the Kodi app and follow the steps in this guide to install add-ons and start watching content.

How To Use Kodi On Android

The Android operating system, whether on a smartphone or a streaming device, works great with Kodi.

To use Kodi on Android mobile devices, just download and install Kodi for Android from the official Kodi website (see the ‘How To Install Kodi’ section above).

To use Kodi on Android TV, you may be able to install the Kodi app on your device, depending on what it is. The Nvidia Shield supports the Kodi app, available in the Google Play store. With other streaming devices running the Android TV operating system you may need to install Kodi manually. The most popular device to use is Amazon Fire Stick — see above for how to use Kodi with a Fire device.

How To Use Kodi To Watch Live TV

Briefly, if you installed Fusion, as outlined above, you can use it to install live TV add-ons like Phoenix and SportsDevil. Or, from the Kodi home screen, go to Home > Add-ons > Add-on browser > Install from repository / Install from zip file / Search and look for live TV add-ons to install.

There are tons of add-ons that will let you watch free live TV and live sports — but again, be aware of those that are giving away paid content and use a VPN for protection if you use third-party add-ons.

Kodi also has Personal Video Recorder (PVR) capability. To set this up, go to System (gear icon) > PVR & Live TV Settings.

How To Use Exodus On Kodi

Exodus is a very popular Kodi add-on. Exodus will let you watch a massive collection of TV shows and movies, all for free.

To use Exodus on Kodi, follow the steps above to install Fusion Add-on Installer. Then, follow the steps to use Fusion to install add-ons. Just look for the Exodus add-on in the Fusion add-on library, and click to install it. Then, launch Exodus and start watching.

How To Use Kodi To Watch Netflix, Amazon Video, And Hulu

You can easily use Kodi to stream Netflix, Amazon Video, and Hulu. All you need to do is install the add-ons for each service.

To watch Netflix on Kodi, use the Flix2Kodi add-on or NetfliXBMC. To watch Hulu on Kodi, use the Hulu Plus or Hulubox add-ons. To watch Amazon Video on Kodi, use the Amazon Prime Instant Video add-on. You can find these by going to Add-ons > Download > Video Add-ons.

How To Install Kodi Add-Ons From A Repository

To install add-ons from a repository (the default Kodi repository or any others you add), go to Home > Add-ons > Add-on browser (the little box icon) > Install from repository.

If you haven’t added any repositories, you’ll automatically be taken to the official Kodi repository. If you have, choose the repository you want look in, or look in all repositories. Choose Video add-ons, find an add-on you want, click on it, then click Install.

I’ll walk you through exactly how to install one in the default Kodi repository: YouTube. To install YouTube, go to Home > Add-ons > Add-on browser > Install from repository.

Select the Kodi repository, then go to Video add-ons. You can now browse and choose add-ons to install. To install YouTube, find it in the list, click on it, then hit Install. Repeat for any other add-ons you want.

An important cautionary note — some Kodi add-ons are legally sketchy, and may put users at risk. In fact, many of the all-time most popular add-ons fall in this category. That’s because these are the ones that let you watch tons of TV episodes, live sports, and hit movies for free when we all know you’re supposed to pay for this content.

We must offer the obligatory “only use sanctioned Kodi add-ons!” advice. But since all that free TV is just too cool, here’s the next best thing — protect your privacy and security on Kodi. Illegal streaming of copyrighted content is not something the feds, or the copyright holders, take lightly. And you just never know how safe these third-party add-ons really are (more about Kodi’s security problems).

For only about $5/month you can use Kodi with a VPN, which will hide your identity, protect your privacy, unblock sources, and keep you safe from all kinds of unsavory sorts and prying agencies.

How To Install Kodi Add-Ons From A Zip File

You can also install add-ons from any zip file, either on your device or one you’ve added to Kodi. Go to Home > Add-ons > Add-on browser > Install from a zip file. Choose the file you want to install.

After you see the “Add-on enabled” message, go back to Install from repository and select the file you just added. You can then browse and install its add-ons.

How To Install Additional Add-On Repositories

Repositories are just big collections of Kodi add-ons. Repositories make it easy to browse all the add-ons available and choose the ones you want to install.

Kodi comes with one repository already on it — the official Kodi add-on repository. There are lots of great add-ons in here. But if you want to broaden your viewing options — particularly to add-ons that will let you stream tons of free TV — you can add other repositories to Kodi.
If you followed the steps above, you already added the Fusion repository. Another great repository to use instead of or in addition to Fusion is SuperRepo. It is very well maintained, and has thousands of the best add-ons. SuperRepo, and all the add-ons, are free. Note that some of them are “unofficial” add-ons. So if you’d rather stick to the official library, do not get SuperRepo.

To install SuperRepo, watch the video below, or to https://superrepo.org/get-started/ and follow the written tutorial. It’s very good and will walk you through the entire process.

Note that SuperRepo not only has add-ons, it also has a bunch of other repositories available to install. Click on the Add-on repository menu item to find other repositories you can install to get access to even more add-ons.

How To Install Individual Add-Ons On Kodi

As stated above, using Fusion Add-on Installer is the easiest route for Kodi beginners.

But you might also want to install add-ons individually, so we’ll walk through exactly how to do it. Just about every Kodi user out there will name SALTS as a must-have add-on.

SALTS will give you easy access to countless hours of popular TV shows, just-released movies, and lots more, all for free. Which means — don’t take this lightly! — we strongly recommendgetting a VPN for protection before installing it.

Here’s how to install SALTS on Kodi:

1. Go to System > File manager >Add source. Choose None for the file page, then enter the URL http://fusion.tvaddons.ag and name it Fusion or something else that makes sense to you.

2. Go back to Home > Add-Ons > Add-on browser and select “Install from zip file.” Find the file you just added and named, and then select “xbmc-repos.” Click on the “English” file and then select “repository.tknorris.beta-x.x.x.zip.”

To get any other Kodi add-ons, just use the same process, only choose a different repository or source. The search function is also very handy.

How To Use Kodi To Watch Videos In Your Media Library

After you install Kodi, you’ll see the home menu pop up. From there, you can choose Movies, TV Shows, or Videos to add files stored on your computer or device. You can use Kodi’s search feature to find the videos you want to watch.

Use these same basic steps to listen to music or look at photos with Kodi. It’s a very intuitive platform and will probably feel like an old friend within minutes.

How To Watch Content On Your TV Set With Kodi

Kodi is designed to be used in a home theater environment. You’d probably rather not watch shows and movies and etc. on your device’s cramped little screen anyway. So how do you get all that great content onto your nice big-screen TV?

There’s no single device to use to stream Kodi on a TV. Instead, there are lots of different options, depending on your preferences.

Kodi works on other Android TV boxes as well. The Xiaomi Mi Box is a popular choice among devoted Kodi users. (See our list of the best streaming boxes for Kodi.) You can also install Kodi on Xbox One and Raspberry Pi to stream content onto a TV, but this can get a bit technical — too complicated for this intro guide.

For more help with how to use Kodi, you an also visit the official Kodi Wiki at http://kodi.wiki/view/quick_start_guide.

FAQs:

What do I need to use Kodi?

1) A device to use Kodi with — computer, phone, tablet, game console, streaming device, etc. 2) The free Kodi software (see above for where to download the official version). 3) A VPN setup on Kodi. See how to add a VPN to Kodi.

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